Systems and methods for enhanced situation visualization

Abstract

An augmented reality (AR) system for generating and displaying an enhanced situation visualization (ESV) is provided. The AR system may include an ESV computing device, a user computing device operated by a user and a reference database. The user computing device may transmit a reference request message to the ESV device, the reference request message including an image representative of a current view of a user. The ESV computing device may determine a subject of the image, retrieve reference information associated with the subject from the reference database, and determine situation information specific to the subject. The reference and situation information may be displayed on the user computing device to provide an ESV of the subject. The ESV may be used for insurance-related activities, such as handling, adjusting, and/or generating homeowner's insurance claims, and/or for instructional guidance.

We claim: 
     
       1. An enhanced situation visualization (ESV) computing device comprising a memory and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 receive a current view of a property; 
 determine at least one change in the property by electronically comparing the current view of the property to a prior view of the property stored in the memory; and 
 cause to be displayed, on a user device, the at least one change in the property overlaid against the current view of the property and situation information overlaid against the current view of the property, the situation information including estimated damages to the property. 
 
     
     
       2. The ESV computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the user device includes one of a plurality of augmented reality systems, the plurality of augmented reality systems including a plurality of personal digital projection apparatuses. 
     
     
       3. The ESV computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 generate a virtual grid representing the at least one change in the property; and 
 cause to be displayed, on the user device, the virtual grid. 
 
     
     
       4. The ESV computing device of  claim 3 , wherein the virtual grid is overlaid against the current view of the property and positioned relative to the current view of the property such that the virtual grid indicates the at least one change in the property relative to the current view of the property. 
     
     
       5. The ESV computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the situation information includes estimated costs to repair the property. 
     
     
       6. The ESV computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated damages include at least one of a nature of materials damaged in the property or an approximate size of the estimated damages. 
     
     
       7. The ESV computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the user device includes one of a personal digital projection apparatus, a smartphone, a tablet, and a computer including a camera and screen technology. 
     
     
       8. A computer-based method implemented by an enhanced situation visualization (ESV) computing device including a memory and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the method comprising:
 receiving a current view of a property; 
 determining at least one change in the property by electronically comparing the current view of the property to a prior view of the property stored in the memory; and 
 causing to be displayed, on a user device, the at least one change in the property overlaid against the current view of the property and situation information overlaid against the current view of the property, the situation information including estimated damages to the property. 
 
     
     
       9. The computer-based method of  claim 8 , wherein the user device includes one of a plurality of augmented reality systems, the plurality of augmented reality systems including a plurality of personal digital projection apparatuses. 
     
     
       10. The computer-based method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 generating a virtual grid representing the at least one change in the property; and 
 causing to be displayed, on the user device, the virtual grid. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer-based method of  claim 10 , wherein the virtual grid is overlaid against the current view of the property and positioned relative to the current view of the property such that the virtual grid indicates the at least one change in the property relative to the current view of the property. 
     
     
       12. The computer-based method of  claim 8 , wherein the situation information includes estimated costs to repair the property. 
     
     
       13. The computer-based method of  claim 8 , wherein the estimated damages include at least one of a nature of materials damaged in the property or an approximate size of the estimated damages. 
     
     
       14. The computer-based method of  claim 8 , wherein the user device includes one of a personal digital projection apparatus, a smartphone, a tablet, and a computer including a camera and screen technology. 
     
     
       15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor communicatively coupled to a memory, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:
 receive a current view of a property; 
 determine at least one change in the property by electronically comparing the current view of the property to a prior view of the property stored in the memory; and 
 cause to be displayed, on a user device, the at least one change in the property overlaid against the current view of the property and situation information overlaid against the current view of the property, the situation information including estimated damages to the property. 
 
     
     
       16. The least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the user device includes one of a plurality of augmented reality systems, the plurality of augmented reality systems including a plurality of personal digital projection apparatuses. 
     
     
       17. The least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
 generate a virtual grid representing the at least one change in the property; and 
 cause to be displayed, on the user device, the virtual grid. 
 
     
     
       18. The least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual grid is overlaid against the current view of the property and positioned relative to the current view of the property such that the virtual grid indicates the at least one change in the property relative to the current view of the property. 
     
     
       19. The least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the situation information includes estimated costs to repair the property. 
     
     
       20. The least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the estimated damages include at least one of a nature of materials damaged in the property or an approximate size of the estimated damages.